Face shield mounting apparatus



' Nov. 4, 1969 H. A. RASCHKE 3,475,766

FACE SHIELD MOUNTING APPARATUS Original Filed July 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HERBERTA. RASCHKE WMTHTSTA ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1969 H. A. RASCHKE 3,475,766

FACE SHIELD MOUNTING APPARATUS Original Filed July 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. HERBERT A. RASCHKE F G. 8 TMZJJ MW ATTORNE Y8 United States Patent Office 3,475,766 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 3,475,766 FACE SHIELD MOUNTING APPARATUS Herbert A. Raschke, Greenbrae, Calif., assignor to E. D. Bullard Company, Sausalito, Calif. Continuation of application Ser. No. 564,996, July 13, 1966. This application May 16, 1968, Ser. No. 731,676 Int. Cl. A42b 1/06 US. Cl. 2--9 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Devices for mounting face protective shields on safety helmets that include snap fastener members so located as to afford pivotable movement of the face shield relative to the hat about an axis through the snap fastener members. A device for mounting the snap fastener on a safety hat without piercing the hat or otherwise impairing its strength or electrical resistance.

This invention relates to apparatus for mounting a face shield onto a safety hat and more particularly to a face shield mounting apparatus which affords quick removal and replacement of the face shield.

This is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 564,996 filed July 13, 1966 which in turn is a continuationin-part of application for United States Letters Patent, Ser. No. 509,769, filed Nov. 26, 1965, now abandoned.

The present invention affords apparatus for mounting a face shield onto a safety hat so that the face shield is securely retained in place over the eyes and face of the wearer and is pivotally movable to a position remote from the face of the wearer and above the safety hat. Moreover, the face shield can be conveniently totally removed from the hat.

An object of this invention is to provide a face shield that is quickly removable from and mountable onto a safety hat. This object is achieved in the present invention by provision of snap fasteners of more or less conventional design which have one member thereof mounted to the hat and a complementary member thereof mounted to a face shield supporting structure. The snap fasteners are so located that the face shield is pivotally movable about an axis extending through the centers of the fasteners.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a face shield mounting apparatus which retains the safety hat firmly in either of two positions: in place over the face and eyes of the wearer or above the face of the wearer in overlying relation to the hat and clear of the wearers eyes. This object is attained by providing a pivotally mounted U-shaped strut member conforming to the front brim of the hat and which U-shaped member has a horizontally extending flange which rests on the front brim of the hat when the face shield is in place over the face of the wearer. Such flange is formed with the edge portions so configured that when the U-shaped member and the face shield attached thereto is pivotally moved above the safety hat, the edge portions of the flange will frictionally engage the exterior surface of the hat crown and there remain until intentionally moved by the wearer.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a face shield mounting structure that can be attached to a safety hat without passage of screws or fasteners of any kind through the safety hat. Certain regulations and/ or specifications regarding safety hats for use by electrical workers prohibit the placement of any holes through the shell of the hat; prior art structures requiring holes in the hat for attaching face shields are unsuitable for such hats. The present invention provides an insulative block on the outer face of which is formed a snap member and which body includes means for attaching it to a hat without drilling or otherwise piercing the hat. Such means is exemplified by a slot for embracing the side edge margin of the hat together with a screw or like member for compressing the surfaces defining the slot toward one another to firmly grip the hat rim.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a face shield mounting structure in which the transparent face shield member only can be replaced as needed. Replacement of face shields becomes necessary if a different size face shield is desired or if the face shield becomes partially opaque through scratching and/or abrasion occurring during use. The object is accomplished in the present invention by providing a face shield formed of bendable transparent material, providing snap members on opposite corners of the transparent member and providing at least one opening along the upper edge margin of the transparent face shield intermediate the snap members. The U-shaped mounting member referred to above is provided with complementary snap members adjacent its ends and one or more studs extending therefrom which are positioned for passing through the hole or holes in the transparent member. Thus the transparent shield is held securely to the U-shaped strut member but can be quickly removed by merely unsnapping the snap members.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for mounting a relatively heavy face shield of the type typically exemplified by a welders face shield, without necessitating permanent attachments to a safety helmet. The present invention affords apparatus for mounting a welders face shield so that the face shield is held firmly onto the helmet, is adapted for pivotal movement between a face protecting position and an upper position, and is readily removable from the safety helmet. The apparatus is preferably formed of insulated material so as to conform with the previously mentioned electrical specifications.

Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent after referring to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safety hat on which is mounted a face shield in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view looking toward the front of the left side of the face shield mounting apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded plan view of the improved face shield mounting structure;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation in cross section of the face shield of the present invention in place on a safety hat;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an insulative block constituting part of the mounting apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5a is a cross-sectional view of the insulative block of FIG. 5 in place on a safety hat;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another form of insulative block in place on a safety hat;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a mounting clamp of the present invention particularly suitable for mounting relatively heavy welding shields to a safety hat, the latter elements being shown fragmentarily; 1

FIG. 8 is a side view of the clamp taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10- 10 of FIG. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 12 indicates a safety hat shell, the particular configuration of which forms no part of this invention. The shell includes a forwardly extending brim or peak 14 extending from the forward portion of the cap and integral therewith. Such caps are typically formed of a synthetic organic polyester resin having physical and electrical characteristics suitable to afford protection to the wearers head. Because the particular shape of the hat forms no part of the present invention, it is to be understood that the showing in the drawing of a cap-like shell is for illustrative purposes only. Hat 12 includes lateral edge margins 16 which carry snap members 18 on opposite lateral sides of bat 12. Snap members 18, as will appear in more detail hereinafter, act to retain the face shield onto the hat.

A U-shaped strut 20, having generally parallel extensions 22 extending rearwardly from opposite sides thereof, has mounted thereto snap members 24 which are complementary with and engageable with snap members 18 on hat shell 12. Strut 20 is formed generally congruent with the forward outer edge of brim 14 and has a horizotally extending flange 26 adapted to overlie the brim and support strut 20 against downward movement beyond the position shown by broken lines in FIG. 1 and in cross section in FIG. 4. In this position a face protective shield is retained in front of the eyes and face of the wearer.

The face shield is formed of a transparent sheet 28 of suitable transparent bendable material. Transparent sheet 28 has mounted in the upper rear corners thereof snap members 30; each rearward extension 22 of strut 20 has an outwardly facing snap member 32 for engaging the respective snap member 30 so as to retain transparent face shield 28 onto strut 20. For affording support of the face shield with respect to the strut centrally of the latter, a stud 34 is formed integrally with strut 20 and projects outwardly therefrom for engagement in a hole 36 through face shield 28 adjacent the upper margin thereof. Thus it will be seen that the transparent face shield is retained in place over the eyes and face of the wearer but is readily removed by disengagement of respective snap members 30 from complementary snap members 32.

When the wearer of the hat and face shield of the present invention desires to temporarily move the face shield from in front of his face, strut 20 and face shield 28 can be readily pivoted about the axis of snap members 18 and 24 to a position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 overlying the crown of hat 12. For retaining the face shield in such position flange 26 is formed at the rear extremities thereof with a frictional bearing area 38 which is so shaped with respect to the curvature of the crown of hat 12 that frictional engagement between strut 20 and the hat surface will be effected. In the specific safety hat shown in the drawings, the crown of hat 12 is formed with outwardly convex ridges 40 behind which frictional bearing surfaces 38 are retained when the face shield is moved to the upward position. Such relationship can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2. When the wearer desires to move face shield 28 back into position in front of the eyes and face, it is a simple matter to pivotally move strut 20 downwardly, and because flange 26 has a certain degree of resilience or flexibility, disengagement between frictional bearing portions 38 and the surface of hat 12 is readily effected.

For mounting the face shield to safety hats in accordance with certain electrical specifications, which specifications preclude holes of any kind in the hat body, the present invention provides an insulative block 42 for mounting on the hat to retain the strut 20 in the manner described hereinabove. An example of such electrical specification is found in Federal Specification GGG-H-177a dated Oct. 16, 1964, which specification precludes placement of any screw holes or indentations in the hat 12. A satisfactory material for constructing block 42 is nylon, and the block has molded integrally therewith a snap member 18', which is shaped similarly to snap member 18 and is therefore engageable with snap member 24 on strut 20. On the inner surface portion of block 42 a slot 44 is formed for embracing edge margin portion 16 of hat 12. As seen most clearly in FIG. a slot 44 has at the bottom or inner portion thereof a realtively narrow sector 46. Threadedly engaged in the portions of block 42 confronting to define sector 6. a threaded fastener .5 is di p s d o that on 4 tightening threaded fastener 48, the surfaces defining slot 44 are drawn together in firm engagement with edge 16 of hat 12, thus retaining block 42 onto the hat. Threaded fastener 48 is preferably made of nylon or like insulative material so that the entire structure is electrically insulative. An alternate form of such insulative block is shown 9142 in FIG. 6 and includes a slot 44 which is formed obliquely of vertical so as to engage rim margin 16 of safety hats provided with outwardly curved rims. A threaded-v fastener 48 is provided for drawing together the confronting portions of the block that define a slot segment 46, thereby retaining the block 42' in place on the hat. A snap member 18' is formed integrally with the block and functions in the manner described in more detail above.

For mounting relatively heavy welding face shields to the safety hat a somewhat different form of mounting block indicated at 50 in FIG. 7 has been provided in accordance with the present invention. Block 50 is formed with a slot 52 configured to receive the rim 54 of a safety helmet 56. At the bottom of slot 52 is formed a relatively narrow sector 58 traversing which is a pair of screws 60 threadedly engaged with block 50 at 62. Block 50 is wider than block 42, FIG. 5, to accommodate plural screws 60 thereby applying greater gripping force on hat rim to support the relatively heavier welders shield 70. Integral with body 50 and extending upwardly therefrom on the opposite side from slot 52 is a flange 64 which defines a generally vertical surface 66 opposite from the opening of slot 52. Associated with flange 64 and generally normal to surface 66 is an aperture 68 for mounting to the body a welding helmet of conventional form, the welding helmet being fragmentarily shown at 70. Reference is made to US. Patent No. 2,362,610 which shows in more detail a conventional welders face shield with which the present invention is used to advantage. Face shield 70 is provided with holes 72, one such hole being provided for cooperation with aperture 68 in fixing the shield to respective clamp bodies 50.

An adjustable screw mechanism 74 is provided for cooperating with holes 72 and 68 in fastening helmet 70 to clamp body 66. Screw mechanism 74 includes a threaded shaft 76 integral with one end of which is a knurled or ridged knob 78. An interiorly threaded member 80 is provided for engagement with threaded shaft 76. Member 80 includes a wall portion that defines a socket 82 for receiving in non-rotatable relationship to member 80 a complemental stud 84 shaped for insertion into socket 82. Stud 84 is centrally bored at 86 to admit therethrough threaded shaft 76. Circular flanges 88 and 90 are provided on socket member 80 and stud member 84 respectively for defining confronting abutment areas normal to the central axis of threaded shaft 76. A friction washer 92 is provided between clamp body 50 and helmet 70 and a friction washer 94 is provided between clamp body 50 and flange 88 of interiorly threaded member 80. The

screw mechanism is completed by a compression spring 96 which is compressed by tightening threaded shaft 76 into interiorly threaded member 80 until the desired amount of friction is established between helmet 70 and clamp body 50.

It will thus be seen that a pair of clamp bodies 50 can be readily attached to brim 74 of bat 56 by tightenlng respective screws 60 and that the helmet 70 can be readily and adjustably attached to the clamp bodies by means of screw mechanism 74. Because clamp bodies 50 do not require placement of any holes or the like in the hat brim they can be adjusted along the brim to accommodate a variety of differently configured face shields 70 and the face shield can be supported in any pivotal position by adjusting the pressure afforded b spring 96 through proper rotative position of threaded shaft 76.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 8 apertures 68 in clamp body 50 can be formed with two spaced circular portions 68a and 68b to afford plural vertical positions of helmet 70 relative to the clamp body. Such formation of hole 68 affords further adjustability to the face shield mounting apparatus of the present invention and renders the clamp bodies useful for virtually any type hat and/or face shield.

Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides face shield mounting apparatus that affords secure retention of the face shield onto a1-safety hat in front of the wearers face, convenient movement of the face shield away from the face of the wearer, and rapid complete removal of the shield from the hat. Additionally the clamp bodies of the present invention, because they are adjustable along the rim of the helmet, afford secure mounting of a variety of different size face shields to a helmet. Moreover, compliance with electrical safety standards is effected by the present invention. 7'

While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A face shield for a safety hat of the type having a brim protruding at least from the front lower margin thereof comprising first and second snap members, means for mounting said snap members on opposite sides of the hat and adjacent the lower margin of the hat, a generally U-shaped web member extending between said snap members around the hat brim, said U-shaped member having parallel side portions and a substantially straight medial portion connecting the side portions and including complementary snap fasteners at the free ends of said side portions for pivotal engagement with respective said first and second snap members for attaching the U-shaped member to the hat so that the U-shaped member is pivotable about an axis that passes through said first and second snap members, said medial portion of said U-shaped member including a flange extending from the upper edge thereof toward the hat for bearing on the brim to delimit downward movement of the U-shaped member, said flange being continuous medially of said U- shaped member and terminating adjacent the ends of said medial portion of said U-shaped member, said flange having extremities forming frictional bearing areas in the zones where the straight portion arcuately connects with said side portions of said U-shaped member, said frictional bearing areas being shaped to complement the curvature of the hat crown and to define frictional bearing areas for frictionally engaging the outer surface of the hat crown when said U-shaped member is pivoted to a position overlying said crown and there retain said U- shaped member, a transparent face shield, and means for immovably mounting said face shield on said U-shaped member so that said face shield and said U-shaped member pivot in unison about an axis through said first and second snap members, said frictional bearing area on said flange being so located on said U-shaped member that said face shield resides totally above said hat brim when said frictional bearing areas are engaged on said hat crown.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said first and second snap members each comprise a body, said first and second snap members being mounted on a surface of said body, said body defining a slot in a portion thereof remote from said snap member for receiving the lower margin of said hat, and means for selectively compressing the slot-defining portions of said body toward one another to retain said body in fixed relation to said hat.

3. A face shield for a safety hat including first and second electrically insulative bodies, each said body having a snap member extending therefrom and integral therewith, each said body including a pair of jaw portions in mutually confronting relation to define a slot for receiving the rim of said hat, said jaw portions each defining mutually aligned holes therein in communication with said slot and adjacent the bottom of said slot, an insulative screw passing through one said hole and being threadedly engaged in the other said hole so that said jaws are drawn together in response to tightening of said screw, and a generally U-shaped member extending between said snap members around the hat brim, said U- shaped member including at the ends thereof complementary snap members for engagement with the snap members on respective said bodies, said U-shaped member including a flange extending from the upper edge thereof toward the hat, said flange terminating adjacent the ends of said U-shaped member to define frictional bearing areas for frictionally engaging the outer surface of the hat crown when said U-shaped member is pivoted to a position overlying said crown and there retain said U-shaped member, a transparent face shield, a stud projecting outwardly from said U-shaped member intermediate the ends thereof, said face shield being formed with a hole adjacent the upper edge thereof for engaging said stud, a pair of inwardly facing snap members mounted on said face shield on opposite lateral extremities thereof, and complementary outwardly facing snap members mounted on said U-shaped member for engaging respective last said snap members to mount said face shield on said U-shaped member.

4. Apparatus for mounting a face shield onto a safety helmet of the type having a rigid crown terminating in a head surrounding peripheral rim, said mounting apparatus comprising a pair of bodies of insulative material each having an excised portion defining surfaces that confront one another across a slot contoured to receive therein said rim, a threaded fastener traversing said slot and threadedly engaged with a portion of said body defining said slot for closing said slot so that the confronting surfaces engage said rim, said body including a generally vertically extending surface portion on the side thereof opposite said slot, said surface facing outwardly, and means for mounting a face shield to said surface for pivotal movement relative an axis substantially normal to said surface, said face shield mounting means including a snap member mounted on said vertically extending surface portion, a U-shaped member spanning the helmet and having complementary snap members for engaging respective snap members on said bodies, and means for attaching the face shield to said U-shaped member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,366,907 2/1921 Dunand 2--6 1,729,051 9/1929 Parker 210 2,421,427 6/ 1947 Mamlin 210 X 2,631,286 3/1953 Bowers 2-8 2,718,006 9/1955 Bowers 210 2,763,006 9/1956 Amundsen 28 2,798,222 7/1957 Evans 29 2,861,272 11/1958 Stuart 26 2,861,274 11/1958 Stuart 26 2,879,969 3/1959 Bamberger 24-243 X 3,021,527 2/1962 Larsen 28 3,137,005 6/ 1964 Herbine 2-8 X 3,214,768 11/1965 Bohner 210 869,741 10/ 1907 Seitzman. 2,834,017 5/1958 Simpson 210 3,189,918 6/1965 Hiatt 29 HERBERT F. ROSS, Primary Examiner 

